Embryonic development is one of the most beautiful processes in nature. However, when developmental processes go awry, then birth defects, cancer and other diseases can result. Our research is centered on understanding how development normally occurs in the hope of one day treating diseases that result from abnormalities in these processes. We focus largely on craniofacial and dental development, as malformations in these organs are among the most common congenital abnormalities and have profound impacts on the lives of patients and their families. We also study normal and perturbed development of the skeleton, taste papillae, external genitalia, gastrointestinal tract, and other organs, and we investigate how embryonic and adult stem cells self-renew and differentiate.